A web page that I call my-own - among many in cyber space.
It is a collection point for my inspiration, passion and creativity .... may it also inspire you with every breath.
2013 has brought with it a health situation i never saw coming so when i need to get my thoughts out there you may well see them here ... even a few photos, MRI images etc -- please post your comments, all are welcome.
xx Arohanui Sam xx

Friday, October 30, 2009

there will be a wee Brag book heading your way - just send me your Address :)

in other news:- I can spin! .. yes i have completed the mandatory 2 bobbins and learnt how to ply them together in 24 hours since learning! - and its not too bad looking if i don't say so myself :) - looks better in person (huge thanks to Kate and Hannah for abandoning your DH's to come over tonight :) )

- due to popular demand - i will start brag book tutorials for you all :)

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Remember today is your last chance to get in the draw for the chance to win a brag book! ... the entries are low so there is a high chance to win the beauty to your right!

In other news:- I'm contemplating casting on Beca's longies - but know i MUST finish Seb's first- I'm off to spinning tonight - should be interesting as I've never done it before!- The house is a tip but the washing is done- I'm thinking of creating a tutorial for the fold out blog book --- leave me a comment if you would like this (just so i know at least one person will uses it :) )

It was another lovely evening with such a great group of inspirational woman! ..... but i wonder who's going to get their Yarn Swap goodies on the needles first?

oh and i can't put in words how much i love my wool - Trudi did a great job! Perfect Rocky Road!And here is the swap i did for Sheryl ... Yip i was the one that couldn't help but share my first sock yarn dying experience - i promise to behave next time! Yarn closeup

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

so today i finally got around to making a wee gifty for our neighbours who have also just become grandparents to a lovely wee girl (i hope i remember rightly) .. and every Gran needs a brag book right?

I'm just in love with this wee Brag book! It almost didn't get wrapped up to leave my nest - but alas I've decided that i could always recreate - however i try to keep all my work original so I'm thinking it will stay as a one of a kind. The pitty part was i was 2 hours late for it to head over to Aussie - oh well I'm sure it will get well used when they're home again.

And in other news:- one more sleep till Yarn Swap- Baby + No Nappy + Moving off mat on floor = Big cleanup job after moving backwards through #2's- Emma + No Nappy + bed time drink + sneaking in our bed = wet bed at 2am in morning- Mark home early + trip to town = papers signed at lawyers and just waiting left to do for the sale of Tukapa- Mum + Dad in town on Targa = out for dinner BLISS! = pasta craving filled

Monday, October 26, 2009

So today i spent scrapping - well after spending an hour or two finding my desk!

and now I'm pleased to say that the Blogtober giveaway is ready .. Yes i have made a stunning 6 page brag book for one of my blogs followers (yip its that easy to get in the draw) .. of course link to my giveaway on your blog, or leave a comment to receive a bonus entry!

.... here it is - now you may notice the inspiration came from around here somewhere ;) ... lets just say it can also celebrate my new blog look right?In other news ....- only two more sleeps until our Naki Kiwiana Yarn swap!- DH now has electricity in his workshop (so i guess i may start to see less of him when hes home)- Beca is Loving solids / can now roll both ways and maneuver all over the floor (and in her cot)- Emma had a friend over this morning which she thought was great - but bed time tonight wasn't so great - poor wee girl a touch overtired I'm thinking and all she wanted was kisses and cuddles

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Yes ... I've spent the afternoon learning about HTML and how to change it to what i want - well almost i still can't figure out how to stretch the background i made to the whole page - no biggy though.

So needless to say how pleased i am that instead of the skinny news bulletin we now have a fatter column i can fit more in (so you don't have to scroll as far to hit the bottom either ... and if you do scroll down you'll find a new Quote of the month also added today.

As for the week ahead i plan to finish the Brag book that will be given away to one of my lucky followers at the end of the month (so there's still time to get in to win) - Remember to check back in to see if you've won and of course to see what crafty business I've been up to. This week will also see the reveal of the Naki 'Kiwiana' Yarn Swap! i can't wait to see all the yarny goodness the group has been creating! I also need to get on to creating for my next TNN yarn swap - this time though i can't share much at all on the journey sorry (i may have to later next month if I'm just busting with excitement!)

any who with such a crafty week ahead and another day off tomorrow i should get some sleep.

Was a special day just for the girls (well Emma mostly) as with everything that's been going on lately she was doing some attention seeking.

So we started the day with a batch of pancakes she helped Dad make - they were yummy! ... then we packed up and headed to town, did a few chores and it was off to chipmunks!

Now I'm not to sure who had the most fun - us or Emma (there is a certain spark that ignites the children within us as we go to places like that) there was a lot of siding, climbing and playing that was done and Emma certainly felt the centre of attention when she got a cuddle from a certain fury friend! ....... it was so cute!

After Chipmunks we headed to the local pools (amongst half of the town it seemed!) it was Becas first swim in the big pools and Emma made sure she knew what to do by splashing and blowing bubbles for her.

Then dad got a call to say he was needed at work so we went and spent some time with Nana, Auntie Jeni, Auntie Teresa and Seb while he was busy. the afternoon came and went (more knitting was done), before we knew it the sun had gone down, Auntie Teresa and Nana cooked us all a yummy dinner then on they way home both girls were out like a light - oh yes it was a long - busy - fun filled day!

If you can't tell, I'm a bit of a guess before measure chef - that's how i learnt from my Mother and Grandmother. We had a rule as i was growing up that you need to write down what you put in a dish, just in case it was so yummy that it should be made again! tho seldom followed really as the nicest dinners were the left over use up's ... and it looks like the gift has been passed onto me. Don't get me wrong though as some nights dinner can be less than desirable!

And i love stumbling across new recipes on the blogs I've been visiting lately - dangerous for the waist line though.

Thursday, October 15, 2009

So with Emma's Summer dress done i have had to cast on another! ... for Becca of course --- after i finished the first one with fabric to spare and saw how well it goes with Becca's new nappydun da da dun ...Yes our first Bib and Tucker Pocket Kate sells some really cute nappies on her site and her new designer range is just amazing! She has such passion to hand paint each nappy - they truly are a work of art.

So with this new love I'm having for nappies i can see a few more in the near future joining our stash!

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

With all the hot weather we were beginning to have and having stumbled across a lovely wee dress on Rav that is perfect for little girls and summer, I went in search of the perfect materials.

So on the 8th I came home with some lovely girly summer print cotton fabric, and after failing to find the perfect 10ply cotton decided to take a risk and double strand some Paton's Panda Bamboo & cotton DK with some Wendy Pearl Luxury Cotton DK - and even they took a lot of searching to find!

Since then, with the odd spare moment I've managed to finish the knitted bodice (mistake free!) and refreshed my sewing skills to complete this: (please excuse the photos but i just couldn't wait to share... and we all know how co-operative 2 yr olds can be)

Both Emma and I just LOVE this dress - I've got plans to get another one on the needles after i finish Dolly's one (70% there :) ) ... and the Rav link for more details

P.S did anyone notice that i missed yesterdays post - this is the reason - i was at the sewing machine

Sunday, October 11, 2009

being a lovely fine day with Beca down for a sleep i decided to finish mowing the lawn - Emma normally just watches and plays with dolly so i wasn't to worried ... until i came in and found this:

Yes i have learnt that my little girl loves wool as much as me ... i just wish it wasn't this one she decided to 'knit' -- yes when i came in and asked her what she was doing .... "cozi'm just knitting mummy"

Yes that is my Paua Yarn swap yarn!

I'm beside myself and don't even know where to start untangling this mess

Saturday, October 10, 2009

So this afternoon I spent some time with some lovely friends of mine - the craft of the hour was yarn and dying yarn for our TNN Naki swap ... all i can say is that there is some lovely yarn being made and dyed for this swap - what a lucky bunch of ladies we are! ... and the due date is slowly rolling around - 27th October -- but mines ready to go so its going to be a wee wait for me.

There's plenty of crafty things to do while i wait though - I've set a deadline of next Saturday to get Emmas Summer dress done by - and I'm half way through the knitted bodice so it should be a goal that will be easily obtained. ... and on that not I'm going to get back to it - i must have spent to long scrolling though Rav - add that to surfing Blogtober blogs tonight making my Eyes are 'screen tired'

... quote of the month ...

In the book of life, the answers aren't in the back.Charlie Brown

Life is just a mirror, and what you see out there, you must first see inside of you.Wally 'Famous' Amos

... what will you find here ...

Posts oozing with crafty goodness either for my family or{Flat Tack}when i find the time to create and update or just some random thoughts or motivation of mine. And Photos lots of Photos for those family far away exploring the big wide (round) earth :)

2013 also brings a health challenge that I may add into the updates. I have a rare begin tumour that needs surgical removal - so time to pull everything positive together and see through to a great recovery!Copyright The copyright of this blog remains with the author Sam. If you wish to borrow any of the images, text or content from this blog please just send me an email first. If you link to any of the posts, photos or content of this blog please credit the source. Thank you!